Ghaziabad: VA Tech Wabag has deployed ‘Bandicoot,’ the world’s first manhole-cleaning robot, in Ghaziabad as part of efforts to modernise the city’s sanitation system.
Developed by Genrobotics Innovations, Bandicoot is built to eliminate the need for human entry into hazardous sewer spaces. The robot is equipped with a robotic arm, stabilising legs and an integrated bucket system that can enter manholes, remove hardened sludge and blockages and restore flow while ensuring worker safety.
The deployment in Ghaziabad extends Uttar Pradesh’s state-wide program for mechanised sewer maintenance. This initiative forms a core element of the “One City, One Operator” model, which gives Wabag the responsibility for managing and upgrading sanitation services with an emphasis on safety and efficiency.
The model was first implemented in Agra, where, within six months of its launch in February 2025, Bandicoot had cleaned more than 1,500 manholes. The robot was subsequently launched in Gorakhpur, highlighting the state’s commitment to ending manual scavenging. Operations are also beginning in Bulandshahr this month.
In addition to deploying technology, VA Tech Wabag is running training programs to help sanitation workers develop new skills and transition into certified robotic operators.
Bandicoot has become an important part of India’s sanitation reform framework. It supports national programs such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Swachh Survekshan, and the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, which focus on safe and dignified sanitation practices.
